NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE JANUARY 24, 2017 FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES:

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1 NUMBERS, FACTS AND TRENDS SHAPING THE WORLD FOR RELEASE JANUARY 24, 2017 FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES: Carroll Doherty, Director of Political Research Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director, Research Bridget Johnson, Communications Associate RECOMMENDED CITATION: Pew Research Center, January, 2017, After Seismic Political Shift, Modest Changes in Public s Policy Agenda

2 About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It does not take policy positions. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. The Center studies U.S. politics and policy; journalism and media; internet, science and technology; religion and public life; Hispanic trends; global attitudes and trends; and U.S. social and demographic trends. All of the Center s reports are available at. Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. Pew Research Center 2017

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4 As Donald Trump enters the White House, the nation s leading policy priorities are little changed from the final years of Barack Obama s presidency. And the partisan divisions over many of the public s priorities from dealing with global climate change to strengthening the nation s military remain as wide as ever. Public s policy priorities for 2017 % rating each a top priority for Trump and Congress Terrorism 76 Economy 73 Education 69 Jobs 68 Roughly three-quarters say that defending the country from terrorism (76%) and strengthening the economy (73%) should be top priorities for Congress and the new president. And two-thirds or more prioritize improving the educational system (69%), improving the job situation (68%) and reducing health care costs (66%). These all have ranked among the public s top policy priorities in recent years. Still, there are some changes in the public s to-do list: A majority of Americans (55%) now cite protecting the environment as a top priority, up from 47% a year ago. Health care costs Social Security Medicare Poor and needy Race relations Reducing crime Environment Budget deficit Military Tax reform Immigration Influence of lobbyists Global trade Climate change Transportation Global trade, which ranks relatively low on the public s policy agenda, is viewed as more important than in the past. Currently, 40% say dealing with global trade issues should be a top policy priority, up from 31% last year. On Drug addiction 36 Family medical leave 35 Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, the other hand, the share viewing immigration as a top priority has declined, from 51% to 43%, since January 2016.

5 2 The national survey, conducted Jan. 4-9, 2017 among 1,502 adults, finds little change over the past year in views of the importance of reducing the budget deficit. But the deficit is viewed as a less important priority today than it was during most of Obama s second term. Currently, 52% say reducing the budget deficit should be a top priority for the president and Congress. Four years ago, after Obama s reelection, 72% viewed cutting the deficit as a top priority. How the deficit rose and fell among public s priorities during Obama years % saying each is a top priority Terrorism Economy Jobs Budget deficit About six-in-ten Republicans and Republicanleaning independents (63%) say reducing the deficit should be a top policy priority; four years ago, 81% of Republicans viewed it as a top priority. Over this period, the share of Democrats and Democratic leaners citing the deficit as a top priority has declined from 65% to 46% % who say reducing budget deficit is a top priority Clinton Bush Obama Trump Rep/Rep Lean Dem/Dem Lean Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, 2017.

6 3 As in previous policy priority surveys, the widest partisan gap is on the importance of dealing with global climate change. About six-in-ten Democrats (62%) say this should be a top priority for the president and Congress. Just 15% of Republicans say the same making climate change by far the lowest-ranked of 21 policy priorities among Republicans. Democrats increasingly view dealing with climate change as a top priority % rating each a top priority for Trump and Congress Republicans have ranked global climate change or global warming in surveys prior to 2015 at or close to the bottom of the list of policy priorities for more than a decade. At the same time, the share of Democrats who rate climate change as a top priority has steadily increased in recent years from 46% in 2015 to 62% currently 'Global warming' Dem/Dem Lean Rep/Rep Lean 'Climate change' There also is a sizable partisan gap over the importance of environmental protection as a policy priority. While 72% of Democrats say protecting the environment should be a top priority for Congress and the president, just 35% of Republicans say this 'Protecting the environment' 72 Dem/Dem Lean 43 Rep/Rep Lean Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, 2017.

7 4 While there are wide partisan differences on whether to repeal the Affordable Care Act, majorities of both Republicans (69%) and Democrats (63%) say reducing health care costs should be a top goal of the president and Congress. For Republicans, this represents a sizable change in attitudes. In 2009, just 44% of Republicans cited the reduction of health care costs as a top priority. Over the past year alone, the share of Republicans who say cutting health care costs should be a top priority has increased from 57% to 69%. Democrats views have shown less change over this period. As a result, partisan differences over this issue are much narrower today than in 2013 or Republicans increasingly view reduction of health care costs as a top priority % who rate reducing health care costs a top priority change % % % % Total Rep/Rep Lean Dem/Dem Lean R-D gap Note: Significant differences in bold. Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, 2017.

8 5 Aside from climate change and the environment, some of the largest partisan gaps are on the importance of strengthening the military, dealing with the poor and needy and immigration. Republicans are far more likely than Democrats to say that strengthening the military should be a top policy priority. Two-thirds of Republicans and Republican leaners (67%) say this should be a top goal of the president and Congress, compared with just 25% of Democrats. For Democrats, strengthening the military is the lowest-ranked policy goal. In addition, nearly twice as many Republicans (59%) as Democrats (31%) rate dealing with immigration as a top policy priority. And while 51% of Republicans view reforming the tax system as a top priority, fewer Democrats (37%) say the same. By contrast, more Democrats than Republicans view dealing with the problems of the poor and needy (72% of Democrats, 40% of Republicans), and dealing with race relations (69% of Democrats, 45% of Republicans) as top policy goals.

9 6 There are several policy goals that Republicans and Democrats have in common, however. With proposals to revamp entitlement programs being considered by the GOP-led Congress, 62% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans rate taking steps to making the Medicare system financially sound as a top priority. Nearly identical majorities in both parties (60% of Democrats, 59% of Republicans) also say taking steps to make Social Security financially sound should be a top priority. Leading policy priorities for Republicans and Democrats % saying each is a top priority Rep/Rep Lean Dem/Dem Lean 82% Terrorism 77% Education 79% Economy 72% Environment 71% Jobs 72% Terrorism 69% Health costs 72% Poor people 67% Military 69% Race relations 63% Budget deficit 69% Economy 59% Social Security 65% Jobs 59% Education 63% Health costs 59% Immigration 62% Climate change 58% Crime 62% Medicare Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, 2016.

10 7 The policy priorities of young people and older Americans differ in key respects. Older adults are more likely to prioritize strengthening the military, reducing the influence of lobbyists, immigration, Medicare and Social Security, among other issues. Conversely, younger people are more likely than their elders to prioritize environmental concerns. While a 58% majority of those 65 and older say strengthening the military is a top priority, just a third of those younger than 30 say the same. Older adults (65 and up) also attach greater importance than younger people (18-29) to reducing the influence of lobbyists and special interests in Washington (56% vs. 31%), improving transportation (52% vs. 27%), addressing immigration (56% vs. 36%), and taking steps to make Medicare (70% vs. 52%) and Social Security (72% vs. 55%) financially secure. For their part, those under 30 years of age are more likely than those 65 and older to say that environmental protection (64% vs. 48%) and global climate change (48% vs. 34%) should be top priorities. Majorities of both those and those 65 and older say that addressing race relations should be a top priority for Congress and the president; yet for young people this is a top tier issue, while for older Americans race relations ranks closer to the middle of the policies list. Older adults give greater priority to military, immigration and entitlements % rating each a top priority for Trump and Congress Young- Old diff % % % % Strengthening the military Reducing lobbyist influence Improving transportation Immigration Medicare Social Security Improving job situation Terrorism Tax reform Health care costs Drug addiction Strengthening economy Reducing budget deficit Global trade issues Reducing crime Education Problems of poor & needy Paid family & medical leave Addressing race relations Global climate change Protecting environment Note: Significant differences in bold. Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, 2017.

11 8 Although the White House changed hands from a Democrat to a Republican, a review of the public s to-do list shows only modest changes in the public s priorities from 2016 to For the last three years, defending the country against terrorism and strengthening the nation s economy have shared the top of the priority list. While the economy remains one of the top priorities for most Americans, that share has declined over the past several years (from 85% in January 2009 and 86% in January 2013 to 73% today). Similarly, while about two-thirds (68%) now rate improving the job situation as a top priority, public emphasis on the employment situation in the country has declined in recent years eight years ago (82%) and four years ago (79%), roughly eight-in-ten Americans rated this a top priority. Fewer view the economy, jobs as top priorities today than did so in Obama s first year % rating each a top priority for the president and Congress each year 8 years ago Jan years ago Jan year ago Jan 2016 Now Jan 2017 % % % % 8-year chg year chg Defending against terrorism Strengthening nation s economy Improving education Improving job situation Reducing health care costs Securing Social Security Securing Medicare Problems of poor and needy Addressing race relations n/a n/a Reducing crime Protecting environment Reducing budget deficit Strengthening the military Reforming tax system n/a -1 Dealing with immigration Reducing lobbyist influence n/a Dealing with global trade Dealing with climate change Improving transportation n/a n/a Dealing with drug addiction n/a n/a Expanding access to paid family and medical leave for workers n/a n/a Notes: In 2013 and earlier, the item dealing with immigration asked about illegal immigration. In 2015 and earlier, the item Dealing with global climate change asked about global warming. Significant changes in bold. Source: Survey conducted Jan. 4-9, 2017.

12 9 Acknowledgements This report is a collaborative effort based on the input and analysis of the following individuals: Research team Carroll Doherty, Director, Political Research Jocelyn Kiley, Associate Director, Political Research Alec Tyson, Senior Researcher Bradley Jones, Research Associate Baxter Oliphant, Research Associate Rob Suls, Research Associate Hannah Fingerhut, Research Assistant Shiva Maniam, Research Assistant Samantha Smith, Research Assistant Communications and editorial Bridget Johnson, Communications Associate Graphic design and web publishing Peter Bell, Information Graphics Designer

13 10 Methodology The analysis in this report is based on telephone interviews conducted January 4-9, 2017 among a national sample of 1,502 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (376 respondents were interviewed on a landline telephone, and 1,126 were interviewed on a cell phone, including 674 who had no landline telephone). The survey was conducted by interviewers at Princeton Data Source under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. A combination of landline and cell phone random digit dial samples were used; both samples were provided by Survey Sampling International. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. Respondents in the landline sample were selected by randomly asking for the youngest adult male or female who is now at home. Interviews in the cell sample were conducted with the person who answered the phone, if that person was an adult 18 years of age or older. For detailed information about our survey methodology, see The combined landline and cell phone sample are weighted using an iterative technique that matches gender, age, education, race, Hispanic origin and nativity and region to parameters from the 2015 Census Bureau's American Community Survey and population density to parameters from the Decennial Census. The sample also is weighted to match current patterns of telephone status (landline only, cell phone only, or both landline and cell phone), based on extrapolations from the 2016 National Health Interview Survey. The weighting procedure also accounts for the fact that respondents with both landline and cell phones have a greater probability of being included in the combined sample and adjusts for household size among respondents with a landline phone. The margins of error reported and statistical tests of significance are adjusted to account for the survey s design effect, a measure of how much efficiency is lost from the weighting procedures.

14 11 The following table shows the unweighted sample sizes and the error attributable to sampling that would be expected at the 95% level of confidence for different groups in the survey: Survey conducted January 4-9, 2017 Group Unweighted sample size Plus or minus Total sample 1, percentage points Half form 746 (min) 4.1 percentage points Republican/Lean Rep percentage points Republican/Lean Rep half form 316 (min) 6.3 percentage points Democrat/Lean Dem percentage points Democrat/Lean Dem half form 358 (min) 6.0 percentage points Sample sizes and sampling errors for other subgroups are available upon request. In addition to sampling error, one should bear in mind that question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of opinion polls. Pew Research Center undertakes all polling activity, including calls to mobile telephone numbers, in compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and other applicable laws. Pew Research Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization and a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. Pew Research Center, 2017

15 12 JANUARY 2017 POLITICAL SURVEY FINAL TOPLINE JANUARY 4-9, 2017 N=1,502 QUESTIONS 1-2, 5-8, 15-16, 19, 22, 24, PREVIOUSLY RELEASED NO QUESTIONS 3-4, 9-14, 17-18, 20-21, 23, 25, ASK ALL: Q.40 I'd like to ask you about priorities for President-elect Trump and Congress this year. As I read from a list, tell me if you think each should be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important or should it not be done. (First,) should [INSERT ITEM; RANDOMIZE; OBSERVE FORM SPLITS] be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done? What about... [INSERT ITEM]?) [REPEAT AS NECESSARY TO BE SURE RESPONDENT UNDERSTANDS SCALE: should this be a top priority, important but lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?] Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) SUMMARY TABLE priority priority important be done DK/Ref f.f1 Defending the country from future terrorist attacks p.f2 Strengthening the nation s economy h.f1 Improving the educational system a.f1 Improving the job situation * 1 e.f1 Reducing health care costs r.f2 Taking steps to make the Social Security system financially sound u.f2 Taking steps to make the Medicare system financially sound s.f2 Dealing with the problems of poor and needy people v.f2 Addressing race relations in this country c.f1 Reducing crime d.f1 Protecting the environment b.f1 Reducing the budget deficit t.f2 Strengthening the U.S. military o.f2 Reforming the nation s tax system n.f2 Dealing with the issue of immigration k.f1 Reducing the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups in Washington g.f1 Dealing with global trade issues q.f2 Dealing with global climate change w.f2 Improving the country s roads, bridges and public transportation systems * 1 x.f2 Dealing with drug addiction j.f1 Expanding access to paid family and medical leave for employed people Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) FULL TRENDS priority priority important be done DK/Ref ASK FORM 1 ONLY [N=746]: a.f1 Improving the job situation Jan 4-9, * 1 Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13,

16 13 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, * 1 2 Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, July, January, January, January, December, b.f1 c.f1 Reducing the budget deficit Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, December, TREND FOR COMPARISON: Paying off the national debt January, January, July, January, January, Reducing crime Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10,

17 14 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, * 2 January, * January, July, January, January, January, * December, d.f1 e.f1 Protecting the environment Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, * Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, * January, * January, January, January, January, July, January, January, January, Reducing health care costs Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January,

18 15 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref TREND FOR COMPARISON: Regulating health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and managed health care plans January, January, January, January, January, Early September, January, January, July, f.f1 g.f1 h.f1 Defending the country from future terrorist attacks Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, * Jan 15-19, * Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, * Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, * 1 Jan 7-11, January, * 2 January, January, * 1 January, January, January, January, * 1 Dealing with global trade issues Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, Improving the educational system Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19,

19 16 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, Mid-January, January, January, Early September, January, January, July, January, January, * January, * NO ITEM i j.f1 k.f1 Expanding access to paid family and medical leave for employed people Jan 4-9, Reducing the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups in Washington Jan 4-9, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, NO ITEMS l, m ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=756]: n.f2 Dealing with the issue of immigration Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, TREND FOR COMPARISON: Dealing with the issue of illegal immigration Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11,

20 17 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref January, January, o.f2 p.f2 q.f2 r.f2 Reforming the nation s tax system Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Strengthening the nation s economy Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, * 1 1 January, January, January, January, * 1 January, January, January, * 1 Early September, * 1 January, January, Dealing with global climate change Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, TREND FOR COMPARISON: Dealing with global warming Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, Taking steps to make the Social Security system financially sound Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, In Early September 2001, January 2001 and January 2000 the item was worded: Keeping the economy strong.

21 18 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, Early September, January, January, July, * 1 January, January, * January, s.f2 t.f2 Dealing with the problems of poor and needy people Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, January, July, January, January, January, Strengthening the U.S. military Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January,

22 19 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref January, January, January, January, January, January, January, u.f2 v.f2 w.f2 Taking steps to make the Medicare system financially sound Jan 4-9, Jan 7-14, Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9, Jan 6-10, Jan 7-11, January, January, January, January, * January, January, * 1 January, January, January, July, January, January, January, Addressing race relations in this country Jan 4-9, Jan 7-11, TREND FOR COMPARISON: Working to reduce racial tensions January, January, January, July, January, January, January, Improving the country s roads, bridges and public transportation systems Jan 4-9, * 1 Jan 7-11, Jan 15-19, Jan 9-13, Jan 11-16, Jan 5-9,

23 20 Q.40 CONTINUED... Important Top but lower Not too Should not (VOL.) priority priority important be done DK/Ref x.f2 Dealing with drug addiction Jan 4-9, NO QUESTIONS 41-43, 45-49, 54-57, 59, 62, QUESTIONS 44, 50a-c, 50f, 51, 52-53, 58, 60-61, 63-67, PREVIOUSLY RELEASED QUESTION 50d-e HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE ASK ALL: PARTY In politics TODAY, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or independent? ASK IF INDEP/NO PREF/OTHER/DK/REF (PARTY=3,4,5,9): PARTYLN As of today do you lean more to the Republican Party or more to the Democratic Party? (VOL.) (VOL.) No Other (VOL.) Lean Lean Republican Democrat Independent preference party DK/Ref Rep Dem Jan 4-9, * Nov 30-Dec 5, Oct 20-25, * Aug 23-Sep 2, * Aug 9-16, Jun 15-26, Apr 12-19, Mar 17-26, * Jan 7-14, Yearly Totals Post-Sept Pre-Sept

24 21 PARTY/PARTYLN CONTINUED (VOL.) (VOL.) No Other (VOL.) Lean Lean Republican Democrat Independent preference party DK/Ref Rep Dem